Machine for cutting articles from sheet material.



no. 678,935. Patented luly 2s, lem. I

.1. J. nEAcH.- I MAGIIINIE FOR CUTTING ARTIIILES FROM -SHEET MATERIAL.

(Application Bled July 14, 1900.\ A

8 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Mod el.)

WITNEEIEIES No. 678,935. Patented July 23, |901.

J. J. BREACH. MACHINE. FOR CUTTiNE ARTICLES FBDM SHEETl MATERIAL.

(Application led July 14, 1900.) l (No Modal.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 2.

WITNEESEE NVENTR No. 678,935. Patented .luly 23, |90l.

J. J. BREACH.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING ARTICLES FROM SHEVET MATERIAL.,

(Application led Jul'y 14, 1900.)

w: nouns runs no. www wmmorol. n. c,

no. 678,935. y Patenten my 23, |901.

.|. BnEAcH.

MACHINE FCB CUTTING ARTICLES FBUM SHEET MATERIAL.

(Application led July 14, 1900.) v

8 Sheets-Sheet 4,

(Ilo Model.)

W|TNE55E5- I INVENTUH un. 678,935. Patented my 23, mul.

J. J. BREACH.

IIAGHINE FOR CUTTING ARTICLES FROM SHEETIIITERIAL.

(Appumion med .my 14, 1900.)

(No Iodel.) 8 Sheets-Shut 5.

`TI\|E5EE5 INVENATDFM No. 678,935. Patented luly 23, |90l. J. J. BREACH.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING ARTICLES FROM SHEET MATERIAL.

(Application led July 14, 1900.)

(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 6.

H9 l l WITNEEEE INVENTUB @ZM ./Z M

No. 678,935. Patented luly 23, 190|.

J. J. BREACH. MACHINE FOR CUTTING ARTICLES FROM SHEET MATERIAL.

(Applicaion med .my 14, 1900.)

8 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No'Model.)

/v/v/v/V////Ww-; Il |II|| n \\\\|I Ilmwks nh mlv WIT M5555 fn: mums Pneus w., mom-mmc.. wAsnmc-.Tom u c.

JAMES J. BREACI-I, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FCR CUTTING ARTICLES FRClvl SHEET MATER|AL.

SPECIFICATION forming part ef Letters Patent No. 678,935, dated mayas, 1901.

Application fue@ Juiy 14, 1900.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern.:

Beit known that I, JAMES J. BREACH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Cutting Articles from Sheet Material; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to machines for cutting articles from sheet material, and more particularly to machines for cutting boot or shoe soles from leather, leather-board, or other suitable material.

One object of my invention is to provide a machine whereby a sheet of material may be cut into articles of curvilinear or other desired outline with 'a minimum amount of waste and whereby each article may be cut from any desired portion of the sheet.

In my Patent No. 589,409, dated September 7, 1807, I have disclosed a machine for cuttingk out boot or shoe soles, comprising a work-support and a traveling reciprocating knife coacting therewith, the knife and its guiding mechanism being mounted so as to be capable of arotary movement about the center of the path traveled by the knife. The support for the knife and its guiding mechanism is not, however, bodily movable over the work-support, and in using the machine for cutting out shoe-soles from a large sheet of sole-leather the sheet must be moved on the work-support by the operator to the proper position after each cutting operation. This manipulation of the work is difticult,es pecially for large sheets, as the sheet must be turned and moved in various directions to avoid the damaged portions and to cause the soles to be cut out with a minimum amount of waste.

Another of the objects of my present invention is to do away with the necessity of thus moving the work relatively to its support, and in accomplishing this object I so mount the cutting mechanism and the Work-support as to be relatively movable, whereby the Work can be properly positioned beneath the cutting mechanism without being moved on its sup- `Serial No. 23,600. (No modela) port. By so mounting the cutting mechanism and work-support I am enabled to provide a machine in which a large sheet of material can be rapidly cut into articles of predetermined shape, the cuts in the sheet being arranged in any desired manner to secure a uniform stock in the articles and a utilization of the greatest possible amount of the sheet.

I am aware that machines for cutting articles from sheet material have heretofore been devised in which theWork-support is fed for- Ward uniform distances between the cutting operations to present an uncut portion of the sheet to the cuttingV mechanism. In such machines, however, the movement of the support has been controlled entirely by the feeding mechanism and the support has not been so mounted as to be freely movable to present any desired portion of the sheet to the cutting mechanism. In machines provided with a positive feed mechanism the cuts in 'the sheet will be arranged in a certain definite order regardless of defects or variations in the material of the sheet. In a machine embodying my invention, however, the cutting mechanism and the Work-support are so mounted as to be freely movable relatively to each other, whereby any desired portion of the sheet may be presented to the cutting mechanism and articles of uniform stock free from defects produced.

In the preferred form of my invention I arrange the cutting mechanism so as to be movable with relation to the work-support,

the construction for permitting this movement consisting of a carriage movable over the work-support and an arm or frame movable with relation to the carriage and supporting the cutting mechanism.

The form of cutting mechanism which I consider the best comprises a reciprocating knife arranged to travelin a path corresponding to the shape of the article to be cut out; but I do not consider my invention in its broadest aspects as limited to such specific cutting mechanism. y

In addition to the means above referred to for giving the cutting mechanism movement With relation to the Work-support I also desirablyso mount the cutting mechanism that it can be given another movementto change IOC the direction of the cut on the sheet, as by mounting it so as to be rotatable on the arm above referred to.

As a work-support I provide a platen of appropriate size provided with a surface to coact with the knife of the cutting mechanism. Where a large platen is used, as in my present invention, and where the cutting mechanism acts upon dierent portions of the platen in cutting the articles from the sheet, the surface will remain true for a much longer period than in those machines in which the cutting mechanism always acts upon the same portion of the platen. The surface of the platen must, however, be trued up occasionally, and in order to perform this operation satisfactorily and to avoid `the necessityv of removing the platen from themachineI provide al cuttingattachment, whereby the. surfaceof the, platen may bel trimmed whilev in position in themaehine as often .asmay be desired.

With the above objects in view myginvention .consists yin the devices and combinations of devices hereinafter describedand claimed. In the machine hereinafter-specifically de-A scribed as embodying my invention the cutting mechanism is of the same generaltype as that disclosed in my Patent No. 539,409y

and in my application for patent, Serial No. 23,599, of even date herewith, in which oneor more reciprocating cutting-knives are caused..

to vtravel about the peripheryof a patternplate of a shape corresponding ,to that of the.

Sole to be cut out.

In the accompanying d rawings, which illustrate a machineembodying a preferred form of my,r invention, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a complete machine embodying thesarne.. 2 2, Fig. 1, showing the cutting mechanism in side elevationl and the carriagefrom which it is supported yin endelevation, the attach.-` ment for trimming the surface of the platen.,

having been removed.v Fig. ,3 is avsectionalv view on the line 3 3, Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4 4, Fig. 2. Fig.5 is a sectionalA plan view on the line 5 6, Fig. 2, looking up,and Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view on the same line looking down. Fig.

'7 is a sectional plan view'on the line 7 7,

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view on'. theline 8,8, Fig. 6, showing, on an enlargedA Fig. ,2.

scale, the construction and actuating mechanlsm of one of thecutting devices.

lockingv the knife-carrier in retracted position. Fig. 1l is a view in side elevation of a modified form of knife-carrier.

Fig. 2 isa view taken on the line.

Fig. 9V is a detail sectional viewV on the line 9 9, Fig.-vr 8, drawn .to a stilllarger scale. Fig. 10 is al detail ,perspective view of the mechanism for- Fig, 12 is a 5 designates the base-plate of the carriage, Y

and 6 fourl lugs secured to or formed on the upper-surface thereof. In vertical 'slots in the lugs 6 are secured, by means of the nuts 7, short studs or shafts 8, upon which are mounted rollers 9, adapted to engage the up-v per surface of the flanges 4. The ylugs 6 are setbackfrom the4 edge. of theplate, which extendsoutwardly beneath` the ange 4. The.. carriageis thus securely held and guided by.

the engagement of .the viianges by the rollers 9 and edges of the .plate 5, lateral movement of the carriage being prevented by the lugs 6 and inner. edges of the fianges 4.

A block 10 is secured. in anopeningin the.

plate 5 near oneend, the block being provided with' a shoulder bearing against lthe under surfaceof the plate and being secured thereto` by screws 11, passing. upwardlythrough the block into the plate. The portion of the block extending below the plate 5 formsapivotfor an armor frame 12. A ange or shoulder .is formed. at the lower end of the block 1 0, and theopcning in the arm 12 is shaped Ato fit .the block and iange,.so.

IOO

that the arm i'ssupported bythe block. The

opposite endof thearm 12 is supported by a segmentalguide-rail 13, secured, as by screwsY 14, to the lunder side` of the plate 5. This guide-rail has arecess cut in its top and side next to the arm 12, as .shown in Fig. 4, and in this recess a strip of metal 15 is placed,

provided with a raceway for containing a series of balls 16', upon which the end. of the arm 12 rests.

The parts by which the cutting. mechanism. is directlysupported'are revolubly mounted..

in the arm 12, as follows: .The-free end of the arm .12 is formedwith a cylindrical downwardly-projecting portion, as shown in Figs.

.4 and 5, and the arm at this .portion is proopening, as is clearly shown in Fig. 4. Sup.-v Vported in this opening. are two disks 17 and 18. Each. disk is provided with a liange 19, prOjeCtingfrOm its peripheral surface, which serves as a meansfor supporting the .disks in position. Each fiangeis received beneath oneiof the shoulders above referred. to and.

is supportedby-an externally-threaded ring 20, engaging screw-threads cut in the Walls of the opening below the shoulders. A racedisk 17 a casing 21 is secured by means of the screws 22. This casing constitutes a support for a guide and rack for actuating the knifecarriers, as will be hereinafter described. Passing through the center of the disk 18 is a hollow rod 23, in which the disk is secured by a key 24. A shoulder on the rod engages the under surface of the disk and is forced into engagement therewith by a hollow internally-threaded cap 25, bearing against the upper surface of the disk and engaging a screw-thread cut on the top of the rod.

The plate 5 of the carriage is provided with a chamber, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, into which the cap 25 extends and in which it is free to move as the arm 12 is swung about its pivot. A block 26 is secured to the lower end of the rod 23 between a shoulder formed on the rod and a nut 27, engaging a screwthread at the end of the rod. From this block the traveling knife-carriers are supported, as will be hereinafter described. It willthus be evident that as the disk 17 is revolved it will carry with it the casing 21 with its rack and guide, and as the disk 18 is revolved it will carry with it the rod 23 and block 26, from which the knife-carriers are supported. In order to cause the disks 17 and 18 to revolve in unison, I connect them by suitable mechanism, as by a shaft 28, journaled in the arm 12 and provided with pinions 29 and 30, engaging, respectively, with gear-teeth cut on the periphery of the disks 17 and 18, as is shown in Fig. 3.

3l designates a driving-shaft journaled in the casing 3 and extending longitudinally thereof. The shaft is slotted and passes through the sleeve of a bevel-gear 32, journalcd in a block 33, secured to the plate 5 of the reciprocating carriage. A key 34, secured to the sleeve, engages the slot in the shaft, whereby the bevel-gear has a sliding engagement with the shaft, butis compelled to turn therewith. The sleeve is prevented from endwise movement in the block 33 by the shoulder formed by the rear side of the gear 32 and by a plate 35, secured to the end of the sleeve. The gear 32 meshes with a similar gear 36 at the upper end of a vertical shaft 37, journaled in the block 10, the axis of the shaft coinciding with the axis of the block. A gear 38 at the lower end of the shaft 37 meshes with a gear 39, supported on the lower side of the arm 12, as will be described, and this gear meshes with a gear 40 at the upper end of a tubular shaft 4l. The shaft 41 is journaled on thehollow rod 23 and is free to revolve thereon. At its lower end the shaft is provided with a gear 42, which engages pinions on short vertical shafts from which the reciprocating knives are actuated, as will be hereinafter described.

The shaft is supported in position bythe engagement of the lower surface of the gear 40 with the upper surface of the disk 17 and by the engagement of the lower end of the shaft and hub of the gear 42 with the upper surface of the block 26. As will be seen in Figs. 3 and 4, the shaft 41 passes down through a central opening in the disk 17 and revolves independently thereof.

The support for the gear 39 consists of a flanged bushing 43, screwed on the lower end of a stud 44. This bushing is prevented from turning on the lstud by a pin 45, projecting downwardly therefrom and engaging a notch in the cylindrical portion of the arm 12. A plate 46, pinned to the upper face of the gear 39 and closely surrounding the stud, coperates with vthe bushing in holding the gear in position.

The block 26 is formed with a flat upper surface, and projecting upwardly from such surface is a stud 47, adapted to form a pivotal bearing for two rotary arms 48. These arms constitute rotary supports for the knifecarrying arms or frames, and, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, consist of hub portions embracing the stud 47 and outwardly-extending portions which extend beyond the periphery of the gear-wheel 42. The hub portions of these arms are reduced to one-half the thickness of the outwardly-extending portions and are held upon the stud 47 by means of the plate 49, screwed upon a projecting portion of the stud and locked in position by screws 50, passing through the plate 49 and entering screw-threaded holes in the top of the stud.

Pivotally mounted at the outer end of each of the arms 48, so as to be capable of alateral swinging movement, is an arm or frame 51, from which the knife-carrier is supported. The pivotal connection between the frame 5l and the arm 48 is clearly shown in Fig. 8, in which 52 represents a hollow stud seated in a projection 53 of the frame 51 and securely held therein by a set-screw 54. The stud extends above the upper surface of the arm 48 and is provided with aflange 54:, the arm 48 being held on the stud between this flange anda flange 55 at the top of the projection 53. The stud 52 has a screw-threaded engagement with the projection 53, as shown, whereby the stud may be adjusted to take up any wear between the arm and the flanges. Journaled in the stud is a short vertical shaft 56, having secured thereto a pinion 57, which meshes IOO IIO

with the gear 42, hereinbefore referred to. 1

rounding the 'stud 65 and free to rotate and move up and down thereon is av sleeve 66. Reciprocating movements are given to this sleeve from the crank-pin 63 by means of links 67,v through the upper ends of which the pin passes and through the lower ends of which extend trunnions projecting from a ring 68, loosely surrounding the upper end ofA the sleeve. The sleeve is supported in the ring by means of a shoulder at the top of the sleeve and a short sleeve 69, the lower end of which rests upon an arm 70, screwed upon the lower end of the sleeve 66 and locked in position by a locking-nut 7l.

7la is a curved guard-plate forming a part of frame 5l and partially inclosing the con-l nections between the crank-pin and the sleevev 66.

A swiveling knife-blade 72 is mounted in the outer end of the arm 70, the mounting consisting of a screw-threaded hollowl block 73,*engaging a screw-threaded hole in the` arm; The upperend'of the knife is provided with a screw-threaded portion extending above the block, and the knife is supported' in the block Vby means of a shoulder on the knife engaging 4an internal shoulder of thev block and by nuts 74 on the screw-threaded portion above the block. The knife is held from vertical movement with relation to the block, but is free to rotate on its axis. The end of the arm is split to form a clamp to securely hold the block 73 in position, a screw 75 being provided for tightening this clamp. The stud 65 is hollow, andfree to move up and down and rotate therein is a cylindrical block 76, carried by a block 77, forming a laterally-extending arm parallel with the arm l the block 78 passes.- The spring-pin-passes' through an opening in the block 78 to engage the knife and the block 8l passes through anelonga-ted slot in the end of the block 77. By this construction it will be seen that the block 78 is held in the block 77 by the pin 8O and thatit is capable of a limited rotary movement about its axis. from the pin 8O througha slot in the block 8l, allows for the retraction of the pin 8O and the removal of the block 78. The main object of the pin 8O is, however, to form a yielding stop for the knife, whereby the knife is allowed to move relatively to the carrier while in engagement with the work to avoid the dragging of the knife in the work during t-he continuous movement of the carrier.

The sleeve 66 and arms 70 and 77 constitute a carrier for the knife 72, free to swing laterally about the axis of the stud'65 as a center. As a means for swinging the carrier .up and down.

A pin 82, projecting about this axis to hold the knife-guide in contact with the pattern I arrange a coiled spring 83 within the hollow stud 65, one'end of which is secured: to the cylindrical block 7 6 and the other end of which is secured to a block St, supported in the upper end of the hollow stud 65 and having ribs engaging slots cut in the inner wall of thestud, whereby it is held from rotation, but is free to move The downward movement of the block 84 is limited by the ends of the slots, as will be evident from an inspection of Fig. 9.

The block76 is free to move up and down in the stud 65, andto support it in positionI provide a rod 85, having a swi'veling mounting in the block 84, to the lower end of which A sleeve 86, sury rod the block 7 6 is secured." p rounding the rod Sbetween'the blocks`76 andSe, causes the blocks to move together; thereby preventing a compression Vof the spring 83 when the block 76 rises.v sleeve is shown in Fig. 9, but is omitted from Fig. S for the lsake of clearness.

The pattern-plate, with which the guidingblock 7 9 en gages,iscarried by a spring-pressed presser-foot or clamping member, as will be described, and this presser-foot, and conseL quently the pattern-plate, is raisedlfrom itsl normal lowest position when the work is clamped by the raising ofthe platen. At the same time, owing to the engagement of the pat' tern-plate with the guiding-block 79,'the arm 77 will be raised, the blocks '76 andSt sliding in the stud`65. knife carrier in retracted position when swung backward against the ltension of the spring S3 and at the same time to return the'y arm 77 to the position in which the 'guidingblock 79 will engage the edge of the pattern when in its lowest positionl provide the device shown in detail in Fig." lO.

of which rests on`a coiled spring 88 and lthe 89 on a sleeve 90, screwed on the lower end of the stnd'65. engages the lug 89 is provided with a projeeting nose" 91 atits vlower side, adapted to be engaged by the lug 89 to force the lever and the block 77, upon which it is mounted, down to its normal lowest position'. In-operation the carrier is swung back'until the end of theA nose 91 passes beneath the lug89,l when it is released, and as the carrier swings forward under the force of the spring the lug, acting on the upper side of the nose, depresses thel lever and block 77 thecarrier being nally locked in retracted position by the engagement of the vertical end portion of the leverwith the lug'.

The mechanism by which the knife-carriers arecaused to travel about the pattern will now be described.

Secured to the shaft 56 above the pinion 57 is a worm 92, meshing with aworm-gearlon a shaft 93, journaled in an armJ 94, projecting This Asa'means for locking the Y To Vthe side of the arm 77 is pivoted a lever S7, one end' The end of the lever whichy IOO IIO

upwardly and inwardly from the frame 5l. The journal for this shaft is conveniently made as a separate plate, secured to the upper side of the arm 94. A bevel-gear 95 on this shaft meshes with a bevel-gear 96,mount ed to rotate on a vertical stud 97, extending upwardly from the arm 94. The stud is secured to the arm by means of an externally and internally threaded nut 98, the internal thread of which engages a thread on the reduced lower end of the stud and the external thread of which engages a screw-threaded hole in the lower side of the arm. A pinion 99 is made integral with the bevel-gear 96, and a roller 100 is journaled on the stud above the pinion. The pinion 99 engages a stationary rack of a shape approximating that of the article to be cut out, and the roller 100 engages a cam-groove of similar shape to hold the pinion in engagement with the rack, as will be described. As a convenient means for securely holding the pinion 57 on the shaft 56 I provide the shaft with a flange integral therewith or rigidly secured thereto and secure the pinion to the flange by means of screw-bolts 101. The worm 92 is secured to the shaft 56 by means of a nut 102, which presses the lower face of the worm against the upper fa'ce of the pinion 57, the lower face of the worm being slotted to receive the heads of the screw-bolts 101. The rack and cam with which the pinion 99 and roller 100 engage are carried by the casing 21 and are so constructed as to be capable of adjustment to change their shape to correspond to the shape of the article to be cutout. Referring to Figs. 3, 4, and 5, it will be seen that the rack is formed on three blocks 103, 104, and 105, mounted to slide in guideways in the casing 21. The blocks 103 and 104 are, however, secured together by means of the pin 106 (sec Fig. 3) and latch 107, (see Fig. 5,) so that in effect they constitute a single block. The block 103 is provided with a slot 'extending about three-quarters the length of the block through which the tubular shaft 4l passes. A semicircular groove is cut in the lower face of each end block 104 and 105, and two parallel grooves are cut in the lower face of the block 103,the ends of which register with the ends of the groove in the block 104. Flanges extend downwardly from the lower surface of the blocks, the inner walls of which form a continuation of the outer walls of the grooves.

Upon these flanges internal rack-teeth are eut. The racks at the edges of the block 103 are extended on bars 108, projecting from the end of the block 103 and passing through slots out in the upper edges of the block 105, as will be clear from an inspection of Fig. 5. The lower surface of this 'oar is about half the width of the rack-teeth above the lower surface of the flanges on the block 103. By this construction it will be seen that the block 103, with the bars 108 and block 104 attached thereto, is free to move in the guideways of the casing 21 independently of the block 105 and that the block 105 is also free to move.

In order to move the blocks 103 and 105 to or from each other simultaneously, Iprovide a pinion 109 at the lower end of a vertical shaftv110,`journaled in the casing 21, which pinion engages two rack-bars 111 and 112, secured to the blocks 105 and 103, respectively. A handwheel 113, secured to the shaft 110, serves as a means for actuating the shaft, and a spring-pressed pin 114, engaging notches in the rim of the wheel, locks the shaft from rotation. The pin is supported in a casing secured to the lower side of the casing 21 and is provided with a flanged head 115, by means of which it may be retracted. The notches in the wheel 113 are so spaced that the teeth of the racks on the block 105 and bars 108 will register when the pin 114 is in engagement with a notch.

The racks on the blocks 103, 104, and 105 and bars 108 form a continuous rack, and the grooves in the blocks form a continuous camgroove, except for the space between the l blocks 103 and 105. To preserve the continuity of the grooves between these parts, I provide the bars 116, secured to the block 105 and having a dovetail engagement with grooves cut in the lower surface of the block 103. These bars form the inner wall of the groove, and the outer wall is formed by the bars 108.

117 designates the pattern-plate, which is secured to a presser-foot 118 in any suitable manner, as by the means shown in my patent above referred to. The presser-foot 118, to which the plate 117 is secured, is carried at the lower end of a rod 119, extending upwardly through the hollow rod 23 and supported therein by the projecting flange 120, resting on the upper end of the rod 23. Bear'- ing against the upperend of the rod is a coiled spring 121, seated in the cap 25.

The frame of the presser-foot has two upwardly-extending projections 122 123, which enter guiding-slots cut in the block 26, the upper end of the projection 122 being notched at its inner side. The side of the block 26 is also provided with a notch leading into the guiding-slot for the projection 122, By means of this construction the presser-foot can be removed from the machine by lowering it until the upper end of the projection 122 is on a level with the notch 124 and by then moving it to the right, as viewed in Fig. 3, and then laterally at right angles, the notched upper end of the projection 122 passing through the notch 124.

125 designates the platen, between which and the presser-foot the work is clamped during the action of the cutting mechanism. The platen is provided with asuitable cuttingsurface, shown as formed by a block 126, preferably of wood, securely held on the platen by the screw-bolts 127. At each side of the base of the machine is a vertical rod 128, the lower IOO IIO

secured to the rods.

Gif

end of which is journaled in a lug 129 and the upper end of whichfis journa'led in an opening in the horizontal portion of a standard 2.

The platen is supported at the upper ends of these rods. Connecting the two rodslis a bar 130, the ends of the bar surroundingthe.,

rods and being clamped thereto by theclampf ing-nuts 131. The rods are actuated .to raise the platen to clamp the work by means of two togglelevers of substantially the construction shown in my Patent No. 589,409, the

upper arms of the levers engaging the bar130, A treadle 132 actuates.

close to the rods. both toggle-levers simultaneously. 'Io relieve the toggle-levers of the greater portion of the. Weight of the platen, I provide coiled springs 133, surrounding the rods 128 and seated 'be-y tweenthe lugs 129 and collars134, adjustably The platen isthus supe ported by the springs, and comparatively little power is'required to raise itto a positionptoclampthe work. Asin myPatentNo.`

589,409 and application Serial No. 23,599, the movement of the toggle-levers in raising the platenv actuates the clutching mechanism for starting the machine intooperation. 135, journaled in the basel, is providedwith downwardly-extending arms 136, adapted to be struck .by the toggle-lever as it reaches yor clutch-lever 138 actuated to connect .the loose pulley 139 tothe driving-shaft 140. A spring 141 actuates the clutch-lever in the opposite direction when thel platen is lowered and thel toggle-levers are out of. contact with the arms 136. A friction-brake 142, carried by the clutch-lever, engages the loose pulley ..139 when the lever isactuated to disconnect the loose pulle7 and stop the machine. The driving-shaft140 is journaled in a bracket depending from one of the standards 2 and is provided with the loose pulley 139 and the fast pulley 143. The shaft 140 is connectedto the shaft 31 by a belt passing over the loose pulley 139 and over a pulley 144v on the shaft 31.

As has been described, the support for the cutting mechanism is freely rotatable in the arm 12. It is desirable to lock the support from rotation during the operation of the cutting-mechanism, and to accomplish this result I provide the disk 18 with a brake-shoe '145, set in a recess in the upper side of the Ashafty providellocking cam-levers-148, (see Fig..5,)

pivoted on the guide-railV 13 and adapted to engage the end ofthe arm 12. The reciprocating carriage can also be locked in any desired. position in the'casing3 by means of the clamp shown in Fig. 2. This clamp consists of a bent arm 149, loosely mounted at the top of a screw-bolt. 150, carried by the plate 5 of the carriage. One end of the arm overhangs the flange 4 of the casing 3v and the other end is adapted to engage the upper surface of the plate 5.v By turning. the. screw-bolt the arm. is brought'into. engagementwith the flange and plate,fth-us securely clampingthe carriage in position.

The stock fromwhich boot and shoe ksoles are cut Varies considerably in thickness, and

itl is therefore necessary'to gradev the soles according `to this. dierence inthi'ckness.

Heretofore, so. faras I am aware, this grading hasbeen performed as a separateoperation, eitherby sorting the sheets of stock before the cutting operation` or by sorting the soles after. being cut. In order to enable the operator to grade ,the soles as they are cut, and thussave the time and expense of a sep, arate operation, I provide the machine hereinbefore described with a gage for indicating they thickness of the stock being operated upon. As shown in Fig. 2this gage consists ofva pointer 151, one end of which is pivoted to the block 2b' and the other end of which is adapted to. move lover a suitable scale 152.

IOC

A set-screw153, projecting from thepressen foot 118, engages a pini154 at the side of the pointer to move the pointer over the scale 152 as the pressenfoot rises during the clamping of the work. As the platen always rises to the same point, the distance through which the presser-foot moves, and consequently the extent of movement of the pointer, will be determined by the thickness of the stock. The

operator is thus enabled to grade the soles without loss of time as he removes them from the machine.

The attachment for trimming the surface of the platen is shown in Fig. 1, and consists of a rotary cutter 155, carried at the outer end of an arm 156, pivotally mounted on the lower end of a shaft 157, journaled in a frame 158, secured to the plate 5 of the reciprocating carriage. A pinion 159 atthe upper end of the shaft engages the gear 38, and a belt 160, passing over pulleys on the shaft 157 and shaft of the cutter 155, serves to transmit the rotary movement of the shaft 157 to the cutter. In trimming the platen the carriage is locked in position on the casing 3 and the arm 156 is swung to carry the rotary cutter. across the platen. The carriage is then moved forward and clamped and the cutter again IIO IZO

.inbefore described.

from the shaft 31 to the gear 42 through the swung across the platen, the operation being repeated until the entire surface has been trimmed.

The operation of the machine above described is as follows: To position the patternplate 117 over anydesired part of the platen, the carriage may be moved on the guidinglanges 4 of the casing 3, the arm 12 swung laterally on the block 10 as a pivot, and the disks 17 and 18 'rotated in the arm 12. The axis of the pivot for the arm 12 is concentric with the axis of the gear 38, whereby the gear 39 will always be in mesh with the gear 38 as the arm is swung on its pivot. The axis of the gear 42 is concentric with the axis of the pivot for the arms 48, by which construction the pinions 57 at the outer ends ot' the arms roll on the gear 42 and remain in mesh therewith as the arms and their supporting-block 27 are rotated with the disk 18. The patternplate having been moved to the desired position, the platen is raised and the machine throwninto operation bythe mechanism here- Motion is transmitted bevel-gears 32 and 36, shaft 37, gears 3S, 39, and 40, and tubular shaft 41. The gear 42, meshing with the pinions 57, imparts a rapid movement of rotation to the shafts 56, and from these shafts the knives 72 are reciprocated through bevel-gears 5S 59, shaft 60, cranks 62, crank-pins 63, and links 67. The knife-carriers are caused to travel about the pattern in a path corresponding approximately thereto by means of the rack and cam carried by the casing 21. A relatively slow movement of rotation is given to the pinion 99 from the shaft 56 through the worm 92, worin-gear 022 shaft 93, and bevel-gears 95 96. The cam and rack with which the rolls 100 and pinions 99 engage are stationary, and as the pinions revolve they will travel along the rack, thereby rotating the arms 48 about their pivots and at the same time moving the frames about their pivotal connections with the arm 4S. The axes of the rolls 100 and pinions 99 coincide with the axis of the pivot for the knifecarrier, and as the rolls and pinions travel along the cam and rack the carriers will be caused to travel in a similar path. Each knife-carrier as a whole thus travels in a path of a shape corresponding to that of the cam and rack, and as it thus moves the cuttingknife is caused to travel in a path corresponding in shape to that of the article to be cut out by the engagement of the guiding-block 79 with the edge of the pattern-plate, against which it is pressed by the action of the spring S3. The swivel mounting of the knife in its carrier enables the guiding-block 79 to turn the knife on its axis to keep its edge parallel with the edge of the pattern.

In Figs. 11 to 14 I have shown a modified form of knife-carrier, which presents certain advantages over the form previously described. Referring to these figures, 161 designates a sleeve surrounding the sleeve 66 and provided with a slot through which the arm 70 extends. The upper end of this sleeve is journaled in an opening in the portion 7121 of the frame 5l, and the lower end, which is provided with an inwardly-projecting flange, rests on a plate 162, screwed to the lower end of the stud 65. A cap 163, securely held at the lower end of the stud between the hub of the plate 162 and a shoulder on the stud, serves as a bearing for the sleeve. The lower end of the sleeve 66 is received within the cap, which thus serves as a means for guidingthe sleeve 66 in its reciprocating move-- ments. For lubricating the innersurface of the sleeve 66 an oil-passage is provided in the upper end of the stud 65, as shown in Fig. 12. Surrounding the lower end of the sleeve 161 is the coiled springr164, one end of which is secured to the plate 162 and the other end of which is secured to the sleeve. The block 76 and arm 77 are free to move up and down, the block 76 being guided by the cylindrical socket in the stud 65 andthe arm 77 being guided by the friction-rolll65, journaled in a bracket 166, secured to the sleeve 161, and by a plate 167, pivoted to the bracket 166. The-spring 164 tends to rotate the sleeve 161 and, through the engagement of the slot in the sleeve with the arm and the engagement of the roll 165 and plate 167 with the arm 77, to swing the knife-carrien about the axis of the stud 65. A lug on the lower end of the plate 167 engaging a lug on the side of the arm 77 limits the downward movement of the block '76 and arm 77. By swinging the plate 167 about-its pivot the lugs may be disengaged and the block 76 and arm 77 removed. For rotating the sleeve 161 against the tension of the spring 164 to swing the knife-guide away from the pattern I provide a lever 168, pivoted on the frame 51, carrying a spring-pressed pawl 169, adapted to engage a toothed wheel 170, secured to or formed integral with the sleeve 161. A locking-pawl 171, mounted on the handle of the lever and adapted to engage notches in the frame 51, serves to lock the knife-carrier in retracted position. It will be seen that this knife-carrier is of somewhat simpler construction than the one previously described, the spring for holding the knife-guide against the pattern is arranged to act to better advantage, and the knife-guide is free to fall by gravity to its lowest position when removed from the pattern.

By means of the lever 168 the knife-carrier can be swung on its axis to remove the knife-guide from Contact with the pattern without taking hold of the knife-carrieritself. In this connection it is to be noted that the means for retracting the knife-carrier might be used in connection with forms of knifecarriers other than that shown in Figs. 11 to 14 and that mechanism other than the specific form shown might be employed without any material departure from the spirit of this feature of my invention. In practice it is found IOO IIO

that the construction shown in Figs. 1l to 14 allows the block 76 and arm 77- to fall freely by gravity to bring the knife-guide to its lowest position. It will be evident, however, that mechanism similar to that shown in Fig. l0 for positively returning the guide to its lowest position might be provided, if desired.

Certain features of the cutting mechanism disclosed in this application and not claimed herein are disclosed and claimed in my pending applicatiomSerial No. 23,599,0f even date herewith.

Having thus described the construction and mode of operation of my invention, I claim Aas new and desire to secure byLct-ters Patent ot' the United Statesw 1. A machine for cutting sheet material, having, in combination, a traveling knife, means for guiding the knife in a path corresponding to the outline of the article to be cut out, a support for the knife and its guiding means and a Work-support, said supports being freely movable bodily relatively to each other to position the knife and its guiding means over the work, substantially as described.

2. A machine for cutting sheet m'aterial, having, in combination, a traveling knife, means for guiding` the knife in a path corresponding to the outline of the article to be cut out, a support for the knife and its guiding means, and a Work-support, said supports being freely movable relatively to each other in two directions to position the knife and its guiding means oveifthe Work,substantially as described.

3. Amachine for cutting sheet material,

having, in combination, a Work-support, a traveling knife, means for guiding the knife in a path corresponding to the outline of the article to be cut out, and a support for the knife and its guiding means freely movable bodily with relation to the Work-support to position the knife and its guiding means over the Work, and means for actuating the knife, substantially as described. 4. A machine for cutting sheet material, having, in combination, a Work-support, a traveling reciprocating knife,means for guiding the knife in a path corresponding to the outline of the article to be cut out, a support for the knife and its guiding means freely movable bodily with relation to the worksupport to position the knife and its guiding means over the Work, and mechanism for actuating the knife, substantially as described.

5. A machine for cutting sheet material, having, in combination, a Work-support, a traveling knife, means for guiding the knife in a path corresponding to the outline of the article to be cut out, a rotary support for the knife and its guiding means freely movable bodily With relation to the Work-support to position the knife and its guiding means over the Work, and means for actuating the knife, substantially as described.

G. A machine for cutting sheetl material,

having, in combination,l a Worksupport,a traveling reciprocating knife, means for guiding the knife in a path corresponding Atothe outline of the article to be cut out, a rotary support for the knife and its guiding 'meansfreely movable bodily With'relation to the Work-supporty to position the knife and its guiding means over the Work, and mechanism for actuating the knife, substantially as having, in combination, a work-support, a,

traveling reciprocating knife, mean'sfo'r'guiding the knife in a path corresponding to the outline of the article to be cut out, a support for the knife and its guiding means freely movable bodily With relation to the Work-support to position the knife and its guiding means over the Work, and mechanism for actuating the knife, substantially as described.

9. A machine for cutting sheet'material, having, in combination, a Work-support, a reciprocatin g carriage freely movable over said Work-support,an arm pivoted to said carriage, a traveling knife and means for guiding the knife in a path corresponding to the outline of the articley to be cut out supported on said arm, and mechanism for actuating the knife, substantially as described.

10. A machine for cul-ting sheet material, having, in combination, a Work-support, a reciprocating carriage freely movable over said support, an arm pivotedto said carriage, a traveling reciprocating knife and means for guiding the knife in a path correspondingto the outline of the article to be cut out supported on said arm, and mechanism for actuf ating the knife, substantially as described.

11. A machine for cutting sheet material, having, in combination, a Work-support, a reciprocating carriage freely movable over said \vork-support,an arm pivoted to said carriage, a traveling knife and means for guiding the knife in a path corresponding to the outline of the article to be cut out revolubly mounted in said arm, and mechanism for actuating the knife, substantially as described.

l2. A machine for cutting sheet material, having, in combination, a Work-support, a reciprocating carriage freely movable over said work-support, an arm pivoted to said carriage, a traveling reciprocating knife and means for guiding the knife in a path corresponding to the outline of the article to be cut out, revlubly mounted in said arm, and mechanism for actuating the knife, substantially as described.

IOO

IIO

13. A machine for cutting sheet material, having, in combination, a knife-carrier, a stationary cam and rack comprising sections adjustable to change the shape of the cam and rack, and connected mechanism for actuating the knife-carrier comprising a roll and pinion engaging the cam and rack respectively and means for rotating the pinion, substantially as described.

14. A machine for cutting sheet material, having, in combination, a knife-carrier, a stationary rack comprising sections adjustable to change the shape of the rack, and connected mechanism for actuating the knife-carrier comprising a pinion engaging the rack and means for rotating the pinion, substantially as described.

15. A machine for cutting sheet material, having, in combination, a knife-carrier, a block provided with parallel rack-sections, blocks provided with curved rack-sections registering with the parallel sections to form a closed rack, said blocks being adjustable to change the shape of the rack, and connected mechanism for actuating the knife-carrier comprising a pinion engaging the rack and means for rotating the pinion, substantially as described.

16. A machine for cutting sheet material, having, in combination, a knife -carrier, a closed rack comprising side and end sections adjustable to change the shape of the rack,and connected mechanism for actuating the knifecarrier comprising a pinion engaging the rack and means for rotating the pinion, substantially as described.

17. A machine for cutting sheet material, having, in combination, a work-support, a clamping member, a support therefor, movable with relation to the work-support to position the clamping member over the work and means for locking said support from movement, substantially as described.

18. A machine for cutting sheet material, having, in combination, a work-support, a clamping member, a support in which the clamping member is yieldingly mounted, movable with relation to the work-support, a device for locking said support from movement and connected mechanism for actuating the locking device by the yielding movement of the clamping member, substantially as described.

19. A machine for cutting sheet material, having, in combination, a rotating arm, a frame pivoted to the arm, a knife-carrier pivoted to said frame, a shaft concentric with the pivot of the frame, a rack, a pinion mounted on said frame engaging the rack, mechanism connecting the shaft and pinion and means for rotating the shaft, substantially as described.

20. A machine for cutting sheet material, having, in combination, a reciprocating carriage, a swinging arm pivoted to said carriage, a pattern-plate revolubly mounted in said arm, a reciprocating knife arranged to 21. A machine for cutting sheet material,

having, in combination, a reciprocating carriage, a swinging arm pivoted to said carriage, a traveling reciprocating cutter, `a support therefor revolubly mounted in the arm, a shaft concentric with the pivot for the arm, mechanism for actuating the same, a shaft concentric with the axis of the revoluble support, mechanism connecting said shaft and cutter and mechanism connecting said shafts, substantially as described.

22. A machine for cutting sheet material, having, in combination, a reciprocating carriage, a swinging arm pivoted to said carriage, a block rotatably supported by said arm, a rotating arm pivoted on said block, a frame movably mounted on said arm, a knife-carrier mounted on said frame, a reciprocating knife mounted in said carrier, and means for actuating the knife and frame, substantially as described.

23. A machine for cutting sheet material, having, in combination, a vertically-movable pattern-plate, a knife-carrier movable toward and from the pattern-plate, a knife-guide for engaging the edge of the pattern-plate and movable therewith, and means for returning the guide to its normal position when the knife-carrier is moved away from the pattern, substantially as described.

24. A machine for cutting sheet material, having, in combination, a vertically-movable pattern-plate, a knife-carrier comprising swinging arms, a knife mounted in one of said arms, a knife-guide for engaging the edge of the pattern, mounted in the other arm, the guide and arm being movable with the pattern-plate, a locking-lever carried by the arm, a stud forming a pivotal bearing for the arm, a lug on said stud with which the locking-lever engages to lock the knife-carrier and to return the arm and guide to their normal position, substantially as described.

25. A machine for cutting sheet material, having, in combination, a rotating arm, a frame, pivoted to the arm, a knife-carrier pivoted to said frame, a reciprocating knife mounted in said carrier, a shaft concentric with the pivot of the frame, a rack, a pinion mounted on said frame engaging the rack, mechanism connecting the pinion and the knife with the shaft, and means for rotating the shaft, substantially as described.

26. A machine for cutting sheet material, having, in combination, a platen provided with a cutting surface, a knife cutting against said surface, a device for trimming said surface, and mechanism for actuating the trimming device, substantially as described.

27. A machine for cutting sheet material, having, in combination, a knife-carrier comprising swinging arms, a knife mounted therein, a spring acting to swing the arms in IIO scribed.

one direction and a lever and intermediate connections for swinging the arms against the tension of the spring, substantially as dehaving, 1n combination, swinging armsa knife, mounted therein, a sleeve surround' ing the pivot of said arms, a spring acting on said sleeve to swing the arms in one direction and a lever and connections for actuating the sleeves to swing the arms in ythe opposite direction, substantially as described. In testimony whereof I attix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES J. BREACH.

Witnesses:

FRED O. FISH, ALFRED H. HILDRETH. 

